He first rose to prominence treading the boards as the Son of God in his most famous role 15 years ago.

Now a Welsh singer is reported to be in the frame to join the judging panel to find the next star to take on the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar – if a mooted new Andrew Lloyd Webber talent show gets off the ground.

Swansea-born singer Steve Balsamo, who played Jesus in the acclaimed 1996 revival of the musical in the West End, has been has received an initial approach about joining the show’s panel should Lloyd Webber’s franchise move to ITV.

Lord Lloyd Webber is reported by The Sun to have quit the BBC and entered talks over a Jesus Christ Superstar show to be screened by ITV.

Balsamo, who grew up in Swansea and worked in a Port Talbot steelworks, didn’t confirm yesterday whether he had been approached, but said he would be interested if a judging panel role came up.

He told the Western Mail: “I would say if an opening came up, I would love to be involved, because it’s a show I feel very passionately about – and one I have had such a lovely journey on, so I would love to be asked.

“I’ve heard rumours about these projects turning up. People send me anything in the world of singing related to Jesus Christ Superstar, on Twitter or further afield.

“But I don’t really know about the specifics of this show, or if it is happening.”

If Balsamo joined the panel, he would be following in the footsteps of Welsh singing institution Charlotte Church, who sat on the judges’ bench for Lloyd Webber’s last project, Over The Rainbow.

The former West End star, who also formed rock band The Storys, (COR) which disbanded last year, shot to fame playing Jesus in the musical in the 1996 revival on the West End, to critical acclaim, and led to a recording contract and a debut album in 2002.

The 40-year-old also celebrated the birth of his first child in November with his partner Tracy.

And he pledged that if he became involved in a Jesus Christ Superstar TV project, he would be an “authentic” judge.

He said: “It’s difficult to say, since I’ve not been offered anything.

“Judging anything is such a strange thing to do, but I think when you are judging singing in particular it is very difficult and different.

“I have always tried to be constructive in life and as authentic as possible.

“There are certain characteristics vocally and physically that lend itself to certain roles. I would try to bring that to any role.

“I don’t know much about much, but I know lots about singing.”

Lloyd Webber has already fronted four musical-based reality shows for the BBC, including How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? which launched the career of Pembrokeshire songbird Connie Fisher.

He also fronted Oliver! show I’d Do Anything, Any Dream Will Do looking for the perfect Joseph (and the Technicolour Dreamcoat) and Over The Rainbow, which propelled Tonypandy’s Sophie Evans into the limelight.

But the BBC is believed to be frostier to the idea of his latest project, because of issues related to people auditioning for the Jesus role, and the idea that it is promoting the Lloyd Webber vehicle.

The mooted show reportedly could also hit the rocks because Jesus Christ Superstar lyricist Tim Rice is apparently not keen.

A source told The Sun: “He is not a massive fan of TV musical shows, he’s old school. It could be a sticking point.”